Development (TUDCN)

Trade unions are development actors in their own right. Through their everyday work in upholding freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, engaging in social dialogue and promoting decent work, they are essential to achieving sustainable development.

The Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (TUDCN) is an initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) that brings together national trade union organisations affiliated to the ITUC, ITUC regional organisations – TUCA, ITUC-Africa and ITUC-Asia Pacific – global union federations (GUFs), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) and solidarity support organisations (SSOs).

The network’s objective is to bring the trade union perspective into international development policy debates and improve the coordination and effectiveness of trade union development cooperation activities.

Development (TUDCN) •News

The International Trade Union Confederation’s Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (ITUC/TUDCN) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) have jointly reacted to the response the members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) have given to the development challenges that lie ahead as a result of the economic and social crisis that the Covid-19 pandemic has set off across the world.

The coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic is spreading fear and anxiety across the world. Governments are taking drastic prevention measures to spare health systems from collapsing. But what happens in those communities where there are no adequate health systems in place? Where a vast majority of the people suffers from illnesses stemming from exploitative working conditions? In times like this, unions’ international cooperation shows its relevance and importance. There are no shortcuts. The world needs a New Social Contract with decent work for all, universal social protection and strong rules to redress climate crisis! In this issue, you will find examples of this work from Asia, the Americas and Africa. Enjoy the reading!

For the global labour movement, SDG 8 on decent work and sustainable development is paramount. It both sets in stone the fundamental role decent work has for sustainable development and opens a window of opportunity to realise a New Social Contract. The campaign #timefor8 - the clock is ticking for a New Social Contract aims at keeping that window open.